Vernon Reid has the number 9 spot on the countdown. Most people will remember Vernon as the lead guitarist for the band Living Colour. But he developed quite the following before joining Living Colour, when he was a member of a couple of jazz – inspired bands. In addition, Reid has done countless work with other artists; including producing, collaborating, and composing, not to mention his solo work.

Vernon’s zeal is what has always stood out to me as one of his most beautiful qualities. Looking at his career, one can clearly see the depth of his talent. We’re talking jazz, metal, classical, punk, and hard rock just to name a few. He has broken down stereotypes of black musicians in the rock and metal genres, and has earned the respect as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. In 1985, Reid co-founded an organization whose sole purpose is to ensure music equality. The Black Rock Coalition is an organization formed to assist black musicians who want to pursue music careers in genres that are not stereotypical of black artists. Please visit http://blackrockcoalition.org to learn more about the BRC and make a donation to help fund new artists and projects.

Thank you, Vernon Reid, for your zealous contributions to the world of music. Not only have you broken through stereotypes of what a rock musician is, you have helped open doors for others.